Russia – Soviet: A Battalion Commander’s and Propagandist's Defence of Leningrad Order of the Red Star awarded to Reserve Major Mikhail Yefimovich Yeryomin, a Commissar in the 268th Mga Rifle Division and later the Head of the Cultural Centre of Evacuation Hospital nr. 2015, 2nd Belarussian Front, who was wounded three times during the siege of the city of Leningrad, and who had earlier seen service in the Civil War aged 14.
Order of the Red Star, type 2, without screwpost plate and with semi-flared edges, numbered 1496531.
Condition: Good very fine
Mikhail Yefimovich Yeryomin was born in the city of Gorky in 1904, attaining a higher education, he joined the Communist Party in 1926 and served in the Red Army between 1919 and 1924, joining again on the outbreak of war in June 1941, serving with the Leningrad Front, he was involved in the siege of the beleaguered city with the 268th Rifle Division.
Yeryomin was to receive two awards during the war, his first was this Order of the Red Star whilst serving as a Propagandist at one of the wards of Evacuation Hospital nr.1171, it was awarded on the back of the following citation:
‘He has been serving in the Red Army since the age of 14 (since February 12, 1919) and he served in the Civil War. In the Soviet Union’s Patriotic War he commanded a battalion and taught tactics at the reserve officer courses of the Leningrad Front’s Personnel Department. Twice he served as commissar of Klyukanov’s 952nd Regiment (268th Mga Rifle Division). He commanded a battalion of the 268th Rifle Division’s 947th Rifle Regiment. He was chief of Reconnaissance in the 85th Rifle Division.
With the 268th Rifle Division he took part in the defence of Leningrad, the fighting for Ivanovskoye, Putrolovo, Yam-Izhora, and the lifting of the siege of Leningrad. He suffered three wounds and contusions. When he sustained these wounds he did not leave the battlefield but continued performing his duties.
Since February 1944 he has been serving as a Propagandist at the Officers’ Ward. He handles his duties well. He commands authority among both temporary and permanent personnel. He is politically developed.
He deserves the Order of the Red Star.’
He was later to receive the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd Class by Order of 2nd Belarussian Front on 7th June 1945, quite possibly for his role in the wider Berlin offensive, with the 2nd Belarussian Front attacking along the Baltic Coast. In addition to his two decorations he was also to receive the Medal for the Defence of Leningrad and the Medal for Victory over Germany.
After the war he was to work as the Department Chair at the Arts and Crafts College of the city of Leningrad, while living at apartment 22, 6 Aptekarsky (Pharmacy) Street, Leningrad.
